Kelly LeBrock, one of the most recognizable faces of the 1980s, left the bright lights of Hollywood years ago for the starry nights of rural California. Known for “The Woman in Red” and “Weird Science,” the now 65-year-old actress has long called her ranch home.
In an interview with Closer Weekly, she said life surrounded by animals and open skies has given her a sense of fulfillment she never found in the industry. “I’m much more content,” she reflected. Her days are spent feeding animals, repairing fences, and enjoying family, living by values far removed from Hollywood’s relentless pace.
A Fashion World Gateway
Before Hollywood, LeBrock was a teenage model making waves on international runways. Born in New York City and raised in London, she entered the fashion world at 16 and signed with prestigious agencies. By the late ’70s, her striking looks had landed her major campaigns in Paris and Milan.
Acting followed naturally; in 1984, she made her film debut in “The Woman in Red” opposite Gene Wilder. This performance put her on the cinematic map. Just a year later, John Hughes cast her in “Weird Science,” sealing her status as one of the decade’s most magnetic on-screen presences.
The Face Everyone Knew
At her peak, LeBrock was everywhere: magazine covers, blockbuster movies, and high-profile ad campaigns. Her Pantene commercial with the now-iconic line, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful,” became a pop culture moment of the ’80s. Yet, the woman America saw as confident and glamorous privately battled self-doubt.
“I didn’t think I was beautiful when I was young,” she later admitted. In sharp contrast to her seemingly untouchable image, that vulnerability offers a glimpse into the pressures of fame. It’s a reminder that the people who seem most secure in the public eye often grapple with the same insecurities as anyone else.
Why The Sudden Exit
While many stars slowly fade from the spotlight, LeBrock’s departure was abrupt. “I ran away, I didn’t step away,” she told The Daily Mail, describing her decision as an escape, not a career pause.
Hollywood’s constant scrutiny, competition, and superficiality didn’t align with her values. She longed for privacy and authenticity, things the industry rarely affords its stars. Leaving wasn’t about fading relevance; it was an act of self-preservation.
In walking away, she traded premieres and press tours for a life where she could dictate the terms, free from the relentless performance of celebrity.
Marriage, Divorce, and Redirection
In 1987, LeBrock married action star Steven Seagal, a union that fascinated the tabloids. They co-starred in “Hard to Kill” in 1990, but by 1996, the marriage ended in a public and often sensationalized divorce. That turning point reshaped her priorities.
Determined to protect her children from the volatility of fame, she refused to return to Hollywood’s social circuit. Instead, she focused on building a home life grounded in stability and values. For LeBrock, family was not an accessory to career; it was the center of everything, guiding her next chapter far from red carpets.
Choosing Motherhood Over Stardom
LeBrock’s childhood shaped her most pivotal decision. She was sent to boarding school at the age of five and knew the sting of growing up away from her family. When her children were young, she vowed not to repeat that pattern. “I could always go back to a career, but I couldn’t go back to my children,” she explained.
She left Los Angeles for a quieter place where her kids could grow up grounded and surrounded by nature. It was a deliberate act of parenting, shielding them from the pressures, excess, and artificiality of a celebrity upbringing.
When Ranch Life Becomes Home
Eventually, LeBrock put down roots on a ranch in Southern California. The property, alive with horses, goats, sheep, chickens, and a parade of dogs and cats, became her sanctuary. The pace is slower but demanding, feeding animals at dawn, repairing fences, and maintaining water systems. It’s work that leaves her tired but fulfilled.
Unlike film sets, where schedules are controlled by call sheets, ranch life follows the rhythm of seasons and the needs of living creatures. “It’s real life,” she says, tangible, unpredictable, and deeply satisfying.
The Peace of Wide-Open Spaces
For LeBrock, rural isolation isn’t loneliness … it’s clarity. “When you can be in nature and be without people, then you get to know yourself,” she told Closer Weekly. Her days begin in the quiet, often before sunrise, with the kind of peace Hollywood could never offer.
Watching the seasons change and caring for animals has given her a deep appreciation for small, grounding rituals. She says you can strip away distractions and return to a truer version of yourself in nature, something she believes city life rarely allows.
Beauty Standards, Rewritten
Glamour once ruled LeBrock’s life, but now, it’s practicality. She laughs about swapping red carpet prep for more down-to-earth routines. “The hardest thing is not putting on makeup or trying to look nice; it’s getting those chin hairs out of my chin,” she joked. The humor highlights her complete break from Hollywood’s beauty expectations.
Work boots have replaced heels, and she measures a good day by healthy livestock, not flattering camera angles. She admits that freedom from image maintenance is one of the most underrated benefits of her chosen life.
Coexisting with the Wild
Life on the edge of wilderness means sharing space with nature’s less cuddly residents. Mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and coyotes are part of the local ecosystem. Weather extremes and the physical demands of land work add to the challenge. Yet, she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
She believes the grit required to thrive here makes her stronger and more resourceful. Hollywood’s pressures may be intense, but they’re nothing compared to keeping a ranch running through drought, storms, and wildlife encounters.
New Ventures, Same Values
LeBrock is pouring her energy into Kelly Care, a pet wound and grooming line inspired by decades of caring for her own animals on the ranch. Every product reflects her practical, hands-on experience and genuine commitment to animal welfare. It’s worlds away from the scripted glamour of acting, yet it feels far more authentic to her.
She’s made it clear she has no desire to return to Hollywood, choosing instead to invest in something woven into her everyday life. For LeBrock, success now means creating solutions that truly help, measured in wagging tails and healthy pets, not box office returns.
Family’s Unique Paths
Annaliza serves her community as a deputy sheriff in Siskiyou County, reflecting her sense of responsibility and grit. Dominic has pursued film production abroad, embracing adventure and creativity, while Arissa has explored modeling, acting, and even professional wrestling, showing fearless versatility.
For LeBrock, their careers matter less than the independence behind them. She believes raising them far from Hollywood’s flash gave them a gift, resilience and the courage to be themselves, free from the constant comparisons and pressures that so often shadow the children of the famous.
Life as a Grandmother
Grandmotherhood has added another layer of joy, and LeBrock cherishes every moment. She loves introducing her grandchildren to ranch life, letting them feed the animals, ride horses, and explore nature. The experience feels especially meaningful given her early years in boarding school, which were far from family warmth.
Now, she can offer her grandchildren what she missed … a close, hands-on family presence. She admits she’s a homebody and loves nothing more than keeping her circle tight, pouring her energy into the people who matter most to her.
No Regrets About Leaving
When asked if she ever misses Hollywood, LeBrock answers quickly: “Never.” She’s blunt about the industry’s shortcomings, describing it as superficial and cruel. “I was never impressed with myself or Hollywood,” she told The Daily Mail.
Her exit was final and deliberate. Choosing open skies over spotlights wasn’t about rejecting work; it was about rejecting a culture she never felt part of. In its place, she’s built a life measured by peace, purpose, and personal freedom.
Pandemic Solitude
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, LeBrock was already used to solitude. While others struggled with lockdown, she continued her routines of feeding animals, tending land, and rarely leaving her property. “I loved it,” she said, explaining that the time reinforced her self-reliance and appreciation for stillness.
These months became a quiet confirmation that she had made the right choice years earlier. Hollywood may have taught her resilience, but the ranch has taught her self-sufficiency.
“Weird Science” Turns 40
Forty years after its release, “Weird Science” still has a loyal following, a fact that surprises LeBrock. She joined the film late in production and never expected it to become a cult classic. “You never know… sometimes you think something’s gonna be great, and it falls flat,” she said.
To her, the movie’s staying power lies in the charm of ’80s storytelling, a blend of innocence and quirky humor that audiences still crave. While she’s moved far beyond acting, she appreciates the nostalgia her roles still inspire.
Rare Screen Appearances
Though she’s stepped away, LeBrock occasionally takes roles that resonate. Her last was in the 2021 indie comedy Tomorrow’s Today. Over the years, she’s also popped up in reality TV—”Celebrity Fit Club,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” etc.—more for fun than career building.
Each time, she quickly returns to the ranch, where her real work and joy lie. Hollywood now feels like a past life, one she can visit briefly but has no desire to re-enter fully.
Concern for Modern Culture
LeBrock’s critique of today’s society is sharp, especially when it comes to technology. “You go into a restaurant, nobody’s talking, and they’re all on their phones. It’s like a sickness,” she told Closer Weekly. She finds the constant digital noise alienating.
Her life, by contrast, is anchored in physical work, face-to-face conversation, and tangible tasks. It’s a conscious rejection of what she sees as an isolating, screen-driven culture, a stance she hopes encourages others to reclaim more presence in their lives.
Defining Success Differently
To LeBrock, the true markers of success aren’t fame or money; they’re peace of mind, strong family bonds, and knowing yourself. She admits her younger self might have been shocked by how happy she’d be living far from the public eye. But now, she says, “Life’s good.”
Her journey offers a counter-narrative to the idea that walking away is failure. Sometimes, it’s the boldest and most rewarding move you can make.
A Life Fully Her Own
At 65, Kelly LeBrock proves that walking away can sometimes be the truest way forward. The ranch has given her what decades in Hollywood never could: unfiltered authenticity, the quiet freedom to live without pretense, and a deep-rooted connection to the people and creatures she loves.
Her journey reminds us that reinvention isn’t bound by age and that real success often whispers rather than shouts. Once an ’80s icon, her defining role today is far more personal. She is shaping a life on her own terms, lit not by spotlights but by the steady glow of contentment.